The judges ruled throughout Israel after Joshua's death up until the coronation of the first king, King Saul (about 1375-1050). The last verse in the book of Judges sums up what it was like then: Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The Israelites did not listen to the Judges and there was no moral leader in Israel, everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes, doing what they wanted, whenever they wanted. During this time period Israel repeatedly turned from God and worshipped the idols of the heathen nations around them. Judges 2:10-19. It was a very hard time. Elimelech, Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion had to live in a corrupt world with everyone doing what they wanted - just as we see in the world today. They were living in the Promised Land and when God allowed a famine to come to Bethlehem instead of seeking guidance from God and trusting in Him to meet their needs, they ran from their problems in unbelief. Because of the famine, Naomi and her husband forsook the Promised Land to live in Moab. This was a clear symbol of turning away from God, of turning to the world. Moab was about 50 miles east on the other side of the Dead Sea. You remember The Moabites were descendents of Lot from his incestuous union with his firstborn daughter (Genesis 19:30-38). And they were the Jews' enemies because of the way they had treated Israel during their pilgrim journey from Egypt to Canaan (Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Numbers 22:25). So why they picked Moab we don’t know it is not stated in scripture perhaps they heard there was no famine there. But, as we will see, Moab was the worst choice they could have made.This was their first mistake for it was in Bethlehem that God would have blessed them not in Moab.
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